NBA Draft Rumors: Timberwolves Listening To Offers For No. 1

Here is what we're hearing leading into Wednesday's NBA Draft, which begins tonight at 8 p.m. EST:

1. The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to take calls on the No. 1 overall pick and are willing to move it. They say they know whom they are taking if they keep it.

2. Most around the league believe that if the T-Wolves keep the pick, they will choose either Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards or well-traveled point guard LaMelo Ball. Usually, the air of mystery about the No. 1 pick has been lifted by now. Not this year.

3. At No. 2, the Golden State Warriors are expected to go with Memphis center James Wiseman. The Warriors say that they really want to move the pick, but they aren't having any luck so far. If they keep it, they'll be OK with Wiseman.

4. Wiseman would also be OK with the pick. The Warriors were the only team with which he went through a workout prior to the draft.

5. The Chicago Bulls have shopped their fourth pick, sources tell OutKick. They are on the lookout for a veteran point guard.

6. If the Bulls keep the pick, expect them to take Israeli forward Deni Avdija and then acquire a veteran point guard in free agency or trade.

7. Word is that the Bulls are offering the No. 4 pick and guard Tomas Satoransky in order to make a trade, but potential trade partners are trying to talk them into sweetening the pot.

8. It appears that the Charlotte Hornets are content with the No. 3 pick. Sadly for them, they need a center, and Wiseman will likely be gone. That means that the Hornets will end up with whichever guard doesn't go No. 1, Edwards, or Ball.

9. Now, watch the Warriors take Avdija and mess up everything. There is talk that could happen.

10. Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge is shopping the team's three first-rounders (Nos. 14, 26 and 30). He supposedly offered at least two of those picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 5 overall.

11. The New York Knicks own the No. 8 pick and have also called the Cavs about moving up. Knicks salary-cap guru Brock Aller just moved to New York's front office after more than a decade of working for the Cavs.

12. The Knicks already pulled off one draft day deal, trading their second-round pick to the Utah Jazz in order to move from No. 27 to 23 in the first round.

13. It appears that the Timberwolves continue to talk to the Atlanta Hawks about the No. 6 overall pick, with second-year Minnesota shooting guard Jarrett Culver part of the discussions. Such a trade would not involve the No. 1 pick, sources say.

14. This may not involve a draft pick, but word is that the Denver Nuggets are trying to talk the Sacramento Kings into a trade involving Kings guard Buddy Hield. Like most things in the NBA's silly season, it seems to be a request that equates to "Give us your talent. We'll give you our scraps."

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.